On August 1, 2024, the Ecuadorian government will start charging foreign tourists more to visit the Galapagos Islands. People from the United States will now pay $200 instead of $100. Visitors from neighboring countries such as Colombia and Peru will pay $100 instead of $50 and Ecuadorian nationals will pay $30 from $6.
This news follows years of increased tourism to the islands. Close to 300,000 people visit every year and that number is only rising.
Reason for the Price Increase
The Galapagos Islands have been a protected national park since 1959. The protected area covers around 3,000 square miles of land and 50,000 square miles of ocean.
The islands are home to hundreds of endemic species of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. The sensitivity of their habitat means that conservation and protection from poaching is crucial.
“The adjustment of the entry fee, the first in 26 years, is a necessary measure to ensure that tourism in the Galápagos remains sustainable and mutually beneficial to both the environment and our local communities,” said Niels Olsen, Ecuador’s Minister of Tourism.
Visitors to the UNESCO protected islands have, according to Olsen, pushed the island’s waste management systems, food and water, and infrastructure to the brink.
Visiting the Galapagos Islands
The recent price hike comes as waves of cartel violence affect many coastal communities in Ecuador, including its largest city, Guayaquil.
Visitors to the islands usually fly from Quito or Guayaquil. There are also several cruise lines which visit the islands.
The islands are a biodiversity hotspot, famous for the endemic iguanas, turtles, and seabirds that live amongst their volcanic coasts.
For surfers, the shores of the Galapagos have plenty to offer. There are several reefs and beaches that are permitted for surfing with epic waves year round.